Whistleblowers

“It was well past time for Manning to go free,” said Defending Rights & Dissent Policy Director Chip Gibbons. “However, Manning should never have been imprisoned to begin with. She testified extensively under oath during her court martial. This highlights the fact that the US government was likely abusing the grand jury to continue to retaliate against her exposing their crimes. That the grand jury itself is connected to an unprecedented attempt to use the Espionage Act against a publisher of truthful information shows that the US government is engaged in an all out war on truthtelling.”

Assange is charged under the Espionage Act for publishing truthful information. The indictment is seen as an assault on those people and organizations that publish classified information in the public interest.

Since the House of Representatives has begun an impeachment inquiry in response to a whistleblower complaint, President Trump has vilified and attacked the anonymous whistleblower. Congress must make sure the whistleblower is protected. Credible allegations require serious inquiries

One hundred and seventy three individuals and 50 organizations have joined Defending Rights & Dissent, Roots Action, and the Whistleblower & Source Protection Program (WHISPeR) at Expose Facts in condemning the Espionage Act charges against drone whistleblower Daniel Hale. Included among the signatories are other whistleblowers who have been victims of Espionage Act abuse, including Daniel Ellsberg, Thomas Drake, John Kiriakiou, and Jeffrey Sterling.

On Wednesday June 5, a panel was held titled “Conspiracy to Hack: the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Free Speech, and Data Journalism”. The panel discussed theFirst Amendment implications of theComputer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in light of the

After only a week of freedom, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia hauled Chelsea Manning before another grand jury. They are now sending Chelsea Manning back to jail and are seeking to impose a draconian fine

Today, Chelsea Manning is being hauled before a grand jury. Again. We urgently need you to take action and tell the US Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Eastern District of Virginia to Leave Chelsea Alone!﻿

Earlier this morning, London police entered the Ecuadorian embassy and arrested Julian Assange. Press freedom, civil liberties, and human rights groups have long opposed the extradition of Assange to the US.

Supporters of Chelsea Manning braved a chilly morning to gather outside the US District Courthouse for the Eastern District of Virginia. Manning was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury, but has vowed to fight the subpoena

Defending Rights & Dissent stands with Chelsea Manning as she resists a grand jury subpoena. Last week, it was announced that a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia has subpoenaed Manning to appear before it. Manning has vowed to fight it, has obtained counsel, and has filed a motion to quash the subpoena.

FBI agent Terry Albury saw inherent racism in the FBI’s targeting of local communities of color, and sought to blow the whistle on that racism and the agency’s unethical use of paid informants. He will be sentenced under the Espionage Act next week.